MLC Taiko Ensemble: Two World Premieres at the Sydney Opera House
Author: Sophie Unsen
Date: Thu 01 Aug 2019
Did you know that Taikoz has established taiko clubs in several schools across Sydney, teaching hundreds of students every week? We have been doing this for many years now, and one school in particular that has a very well seasoned taiko club culture is the MLC School in Burwood. (And not by coincidence this is where Taikoz member Claudia Wherry hails from!)
Earlier this year in May, all girls from the Senior School Taiko Ensembles performed at the MLC School 15th Biennial Sydney Opera House Concert. Their performance was a veritable triumph for the ensemble members and the school, but it was not without its trials: not only did it turn out to be a major challenge to figure out how to fit everyone on the stage, but even before that, what were they going to play?!
In the end, I composed a piece that fitted in with the school’s taiko instrumentation and the girls’ varying skill-sets. I planned to compose something new for the students that would reflect their natural sense of delight, warmth and enthusiasm for their weekly taiko classes, and in the process, capture the fun and visual nature of playing taiko in a large group.
I named the piece cibi (pronounced ‘chi-bee’), which means ‘a little one’ in Japanese. Each one of us was once a ‘cibi’, enjoying that pure and innocent time when we could do whatever we liked: a cibi is always curious, exploring and playing!
The Advanced Ensemble lso gave the World Premiere of London-based composer Kerry Andrew’s Under One Sky – a work specially commissioned for the taiko ensemble and the full MLC school choir. The students worked hard leading up to the performance and performed brilliantly to bring Under One Sky to life.
And just to cap off MLC’s advancing skills in taiko playing, student Zara Luong was selected by Taikoz Artistic Director Ian Cleworth to feature in a scene in Taikoz’s upcoming production of Seven Flowers at the City Recital Hall on October 18.
KEEP THE DATE: October 18 Seven Flowers
Taikoz’s latest mainstage production Seven Flowers| Friday OCTOBER 18 | City Recital Hall, Angel Place
https://www.cityrecitalhall.com/whats-on/events/taikoz-seven-flowers/
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What's On
Chi Udaka | Singapore Esplanade
23 Nov to 24 Nov 2024
Taikoz and Lingalayam are performing Chi Udaka at Singapore's Singtel Waterfront Theatre, Esplanade, on November 23-24.
MLC Taiko Ensemble: Two World Premieres at the Sydney Opera House
Author: Sophie Unsen
Date: Thu 01 Aug 2019
Did you know that Taikoz has established taiko clubs in several schools across Sydney, teaching hundreds of students every week? We have been doing this for many years now, and one school in particular that has a very well seasoned taiko club culture is the MLC School in Burwood. (And not by coincidence this is where Taikoz member Claudia Wherry hails from!)
Earlier this year in May, all girls from the Senior School Taiko Ensembles performed at the MLC School 15th Biennial Sydney Opera House Concert. Their performance was a veritable triumph for the ensemble members and the school, but it was not without its trials: not only did it turn out to be a major challenge to figure out how to fit everyone on the stage, but even before that, what were they going to play?!
In the end, I composed a piece that fitted in with the school’s taiko instrumentation and the girls’ varying skill-sets. I planned to compose something new for the students that would reflect their natural sense of delight, warmth and enthusiasm for their weekly taiko classes, and in the process, capture the fun and visual nature of playing taiko in a large group.
I named the piece cibi (pronounced ‘chi-bee’), which means ‘a little one’ in Japanese. Each one of us was once a ‘cibi’, enjoying that pure and innocent time when we could do whatever we liked: a cibi is always curious, exploring and playing!
The Advanced Ensemble lso gave the World Premiere of London-based composer Kerry Andrew’s Under One Sky – a work specially commissioned for the taiko ensemble and the full MLC school choir. The students worked hard leading up to the performance and performed brilliantly to bring Under One Sky to life.
And just to cap off MLC’s advancing skills in taiko playing, student Zara Luong was selected by Taikoz Artistic Director Ian Cleworth to feature in a scene in Taikoz’s upcoming production of Seven Flowers at the City Recital Hall on October 18.
KEEP THE DATE: October 18 Seven Flowers
Taikoz’s latest mainstage production Seven Flowers| Friday OCTOBER 18 | City Recital Hall, Angel Place
https://www.cityrecitalhall.com/whats-on/events/taikoz-seven-flowers/